The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division says it has launched a crackdown on taxis and private light vehicles providing rental services, after it received complaints galore that they cheated customers.

The Division has mobilised police in civvies and total 57 vehicles have been booked for overcharging passengers in past one week.

Each of the vehicles providing services to passengers going to and from Tribhuvan International Airport have been fined Rs 3,000.

The Division’s spokesperson, SP Surendra Prasad Mainali, says the Division decided to mobilise plainclothes cops after the number of complaints about them charging more significantly rose of late.

Meanwhile, taxi entrepreneurs have also extended support to the crackdown. “Every taxi driver should agree to provide service on the fair calculated by the metre,” a leader of the entrepreneurs’ association, Arjun Gautam says, “But, the fair has to be increased.”